Pressing Strings

Pressing Strings

Pressing Strings got their start when members Josh Kachura and Jordan Sokel met while attending Salisbury University on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Stemming from late night jams with a room full of friends, the two began to collaborate and eventually landed some gigs at the local watering holes. Playing a calculated assortment of cover material and a handful of originals they began honing they're sound and developing a solid fanbase. Soon after they headed into the studio to record they're debut "Where We Are" and gained the attention of the Maryland based radio station WRNR, who awarded the band a spot on the 103 Best Artists of 2009 countdown. The record featured short run percussionist Brad Singh, who parted ways with the band some time after the record was released. The album has a laid back almost beachy vibe that is attributed to the period where Sokel and Kachura wrote the tunes, living in an overcrowded shore house in Ocean City, Maryland.

From there it was on to the next thing which became 2010's Episodes. Since they had recently become drummerless, they relyed on producer Noel White and newcomer Bob Novak to share drum duty along with a handful of talented session musicians to accompany the newly written material including a cameo by Bob Marley &The Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin. The album was a fresh start and sounded like it. Most of the tunes featured a full rythm section, coupled with a more bluesy rock edge. While recording the album the duo discovered a chemistry with drummer Bob Novak and would take him on as they're newest member. So from duo to trio it was only a matter of time until bassist Nick Welker would join to fill the low end.

Novak, who is related through marriage to Kachura, is a true scholar of his instrument. He holds a masters degree from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and has a unique style that is strongly influenced by traditional African and Latin percussion. Throughout the years Novak has spent months at a time studying under drum masters in various parts of West Africa. His set is customized with handdrums which makes him a very dynamic player.

Welker is the youngest of the group and presents a level of musical understanding far beyond his years. He has been playing and performing since childhood in different bands and orchestras and is a multi-instrumentalist. Besides providing lyrical bass lines with driving rhythm, he adds a another layer of vocal harmonies elevating the music even higher than before. Together they have a chemistry that is rich and refreshing.

After a year of writing and live testing new material the band decided to self-record and produce 2012’s self-titled Pressing Strings, which was funded entirely by the donations of fans. They’re first and only record with the current line-up features a batch of soulful tunes with hooks galore. Dispite the short time they have been together as a quartet, It’s obvious the band has learned how to create an authentic blend of americana, reggae, jazz, and rock music. Upon listening to the 3 records that Pressing Strings has released, you hear the evolution of the music in both style and tecnique. In the summer of 2010 the band opened for such acts as The Beach Boys and Sam Roberts Band and continued performing up to 200 shows a year. “We feel like we have found the sound we have been looking for with this band and this record was a testament to that. We appreciate the level of support from our fans and we feel really good about where we are right now and where we are going."